A recent Axios article reports that a new “birth control pill” for men has started its early phase human trial. 

This once-a-day pill would inhibit a process involving vitamin A, which is implicated in male sperm production. 

Efforts to produce a male contraceptive pill have been going on for some time now, but when a successful treatment finally does come on the market, it will certainly make waves. The financial stakes speak loud and clear—Forbes reports that there is a $200 billion market for new male contraceptives worldwide. That’s billion with a “B!”

But economics never stands by itself; there’s always a reason why people are willing to part with their money. When you see so many dollars lining up to secure a new product, ask yourself: why? Why would there be such a large market for male contraceptives?

Well, first off, the current methods of contraception on the men’s side are not ideal. 

Condoms aren’t 100% effective, and vasectomies are potentially permanent. This means the former aren’t great for those who are determined not to have kids, and the latter aren’t great for those who would theoretically like to be fathers later. 

Ideally, men want a method of contraception that’s as effective as possible but not necessarily permanent, and the current options don’t seem to be fitting that description.

Okay, you might say, that makes sense—but why would there be such a large market for male contraceptives? The male options may not be ideal, but aren’t there plenty of female contraceptives to use? It takes two to get pregnant, after all. So just make sure the women are on the pill and everything will be fine.

Oh, no. That would not fly. That would not fly at all. Why, you might inquire? 

It would not fly because it would not comport with The Lie.

The Lie is one of the most fundamental falsehoods feeding the last several decades of societal confusion. 

Here it is, in all its deceptive simplicity: Men and women are exactly alike, and ought to be treated exactly alike. 

Sometimes The Lie’s manifestations seem innocent enough; other times they are more obviously wrong. “Women should be able to have a professional career just like men.” “Women should be able to defend our country in military combat roles just like men.” “Women should be able to be pastors just like men.” 

The Lie may be subtle, but it sows discord wherever it goes.

Here’s what happens when you believe The Lie and begin to treat women like men. After a brief honeymoon saturated with euphoric feelings of egalitarianism, you begin to notice a problem: Men and women are still somehow fundamentally different. 

No matter how hard you try to level the playing field. No matter how hard you push for exactly equal salaries, daycare from birth, and ridicule the stay-at-home mom, there’s just something about a woman that’s better fitted for nurturing the kids and making a house a home. 

And there’s just something about a man that’s better fitted to work a long hard day at his given mission and provide for his family. Men and women are just made differently, and The Lie can never ultimately change that. 

What usually happens at this point is—instead of conceding that women are actually women—everyone starts turning on the men to “level the playing field.” “Those horrible men, dominating the workforce and the military and the ministry!” 

Make a mental note of this; we’ll come back to it in Part 2, where we’ll see how I believe “the pill for men” is yet another example of this trend.